How to Improve your Tajweed in 5 Steps

All praises an thanks are due to Allah SWT. Abundant salutations be upon His and our Beloved SAW.

Bad tajweed, especially from shuyukh/learned people is one of my pet peeves – things that irritate me. I don’t think there is a good enough excuse in this world not to make an effort to improve your recitation to the best of your ability, unless you’re incapacitated physically, mentally or circumstantially. I hope that covers all the valid excuses. People use money as an excuse but I can tell you that no true Qur’an teacher would turn you away for not being able to afford it. Being shy is no excuse either, sorry about that one. I’ve always been the type to try to change what I can, within my capacity. So hence this post. PS: I know I might sound harsh, but you’d have to be crazy not to want to be of the people of the Qur’an; the people of Allah. May Allah make us of them. Aameen.

Step 0

You need to have a teacher. This is a non-negotiable. I’m sorry but Sheikh Sudais doesn’t count as your virtual teacher bro. If there is no one in your area, go online. This year, I have a student in another province who is a uni student and employee yet recited the entire Qur’an to me over the phone in a couple months.

Oh, and then actually attend your classes. Refer to the valid excuses for being unable to attend.

Step 1

Learn tajweed THEORY + PRACTICAL application simultaneously. You need to understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it in order to take your tajweed to the next level. I advise this from personal experience.

Step 2

Understand your mistakes andknow how you aresupposed tosound. If you don’t, ask your teacher to clarify, even if you need to ask him/her 100 times.

Step 3

RECORD your lesson with your teacher so that you can go back to it at home and better understand where you’re going wrong, and if you’re sounding any better. Also, to monitor your improvement along the way.

This isn’t something I personally do but see the benefit of.

Step 4

LISTEN to a qualified qāri (reciter). My teacher recommends Sh. Khalil Husary, Sh. Abdul Basit and Sh. Minshawy. You can listen to your favourite voices for leisure purposes, but for learning purposes, these are the recommended ones. Don’t just listen but take note of their makharij (origin of the sound of letters) and sifaat (characteristics of letters).

Step 5

Practice, but DO NOT OVER DO IT.

My number one secret to improving my tajweed while reciting for ijaaza is after understanding my mistakes and knowing how I am supposed to sound, I don’t dwell on it. I let it go. The awareness of how I am supposed to sound has entered my conscious realm, and because of this awareness, it just falls into place with minimal effort, Alhamdulillah. It sounds counter-intuitive, but often those are the things that prove to work.

Bonus Step

Make tons of du’a, saying a du’a I learned from Ust. Nouman Ali Khan, Oh Allah, You have said that You’ve made the Qur’an easy, so make it easy for me.